Both filters are American made and will last the life of your vehicle, although they do require routine maintenance. Roto-Fab's oiled filters are made by S & B filters and their dry filters are made by AFE. Here we'll will summarize the maintenance of each as well as the advantages/disadvantages of each.

Oiled Filter -

With oil type filters the main concern tends to be the possibility of oil entering the air stream and contaminating the MAF sensor. This is a legitimate concern and can happen if the filter is over oiled. The oil filters do come pre-oiled, so you don't have to worry about oiling for 10K or so.

The first step in maintaining the filter is to clean it thoroughly with the solution provided in a filter service kit. Service kits are available through us or simply buy one at a local parts store. Allow the filter to air dry thoroughly before the oiling process. When it isn't possible to meter the amount of oil being applied to the filter (such as with oil in a spray can) it's better to oil the filter very sparingly leaving some bare areas. Allow this oil to "wick" outward for about 5 minutes, then repeat the process-again oiling sparingly.

Benefits of the oiled filter:

More power - This filter flows more air which means it makes slightly more power. Strongly recommended with modifications such as heads/cam, S/C, etc.

Less cost - With these intake systems, the oiled filter is standard and the dry is a $19.95 option

Dry Filter -

Dry filters have no possibility of contaminating the MAF sensor with oil-one less thing to worry about in life! Also, they are a little easier to maintain in that you don't need to have filter oil and a specific cleaning solution. AFE does have service kits available. However, you can give them a quick clean-up with a shop vac or lightly knocking filter against something. The filter can be washed in a cleaning solution such as laundry detergent. Allow the filter to air dry! This is a cotton element and will shrink just like a cotton t-shirt if heat is applied. When this happens, the element can actually pull away from the end cap.

Benefits of the dry filter:

Piece of mind-no concern about oil on the sensor.

Better air flow than the stock air element (although less than oil filters)

Slightly more efficient filtration than the oil filter

Some like the white filter appearance over the traditional maroon

To summarize, if power is everything to you-go with the oil filter. The oil filter gives you the most power at a lower cost. If you want good performance, superior filtration and don't want to worry about the whole oil issue, the dry filter is a better choice for you.